December 16, 2019
Yes, it was just about zero degrees Fahrenheit, and I had a job interview. Back in the day when YOU WORE A SKIRT – preferably a suit – to an interview.
Mid-calf wool for the win! The skirt was lined, the tights were wool, the socks were silk, the boots were too dressy to be really warm, but they worked…
So now, for me, it’s a staple. On normal winter days, this can be a fun way to be dressy without being “dressy.” If you can follow that bit of linguistic gymnastics!
Everybody is going to go about this in their own way, as should always be the case when assembling your wardrobe! But patience is the biggest thing that I can counsel; these skirts aren’t easy to find. Unless, of course, you can work with a silk skirt; they’re usually abundant this time of year.
Oh, for those lovely tweed skirts from the ’80s…
Yes, I’ve kept the lovely cashmere cardigans from last week, because I feel like it illustrates how this process is cumulative: a turtleneck from a few months ago + last week’s cardigan + a new skirt = new, warm outfit!
If you struggle to find brown tights, as I did, I think you could get away with black ones here; it all depends on how long your skirt is, and if any of your leg is revealed when you sit.
Also, finding the exact same brown shade of boots will drive you nuts – the scarf includes the warmer brown of these boots, so it all blends together!
when will we be able to find lots of really nice brown clothes? come on companies!
earrings – Laura Lombardi; scarf – Salvatore Ferragamo; boots – Kensie; silk socks – Terramar; honey gold heather cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; ivory cotton turtleneck – Lands’ End; skirt – Samsoe & Samsoe
If you run into a day when grey feels like it won’t look good on you, enjoy how much different the turtleneck and skirt look when you pop a peach cardigan on! And that scarf couldn’t be lovelier…
earrings – Kendra Scott; scarf – Laura Biagiotti; boots – Børn; tights – Apt. 9; sweet peach blush cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; charcoal heather turtleneck – Lands’ End; grey skirt – Eliza J
Velvet skirts abound this time of year, although there’s no law I’ve ever seen that limits the wearing of velvet to the holiday season! And I enjoy the whimsy of wearing unicorn horn earrings with a unicorn scarf…
unicorn horn earrings – The Met Store; unicorn scarf – The Met Store; boots – Trotters; tights – Apt. 9; dark teal breeze cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; black shirt – Lands’ End; black velvet skirt – Banana Republic
On those days when you struggle to get dressed, a simple white (cream, ivory, light grey) shirt can make all the difference!
earrings – Adornia; scarf – Bally; boots – Very Volatile; tights – Apt. 9; spring lilac marl cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; white shirt – Lands’ End; navy skirt – Court & Rowe
Here’s another case of NOT finding boots in the same color as the skirt. I’m sure they exist, but I’m equally sure that they haven’t cropped up in my searching! Hallelujah for that little rust scarf border, eh?
mother of pearl earrings – Chan Luu; scarf – Purdey; boots – Børn; silk socks – Terramar; fresh ivory cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; ivory cotton turtleneck – Lands’ End; skirt – H&M
Matchy-matchy stuff isn’t always a favorite for me, but if you treat yourself to a lovely cardigan, searching for a matching turtleneck or tee shirt would just be smart. Some days, you don’t need to over-think getting dressed!
aquamarine earrings – Tishavi; scarf – Nordstrom; boots – Neiman Marcus; winter tights – Falke; light crystal blue cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; light crystal blue turtleneck – Lands’ End; skirt – Maison Scotch
This wardrobe looks pretty cozy… I could travel for the rest of the winter with this! (who are we kidding, I could travel the rest of the winter with my handbag, if I were to give up blogging…)
Not gonna happen…
white, black, and red cotton turtlenecks – Lands’ End; “snow” cotton turtleneck – Lands’ End; black cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; flannel shirt – Lands’ End; striped Henley – Lands’ End; black metallic hoodie – Michael Kors Collection; cobalt cashmere cardigan – Lands’ End; black corduroy jeans – L.L.Bean; black stretch wool pants – BOSS; velvet skirt – Marks & Spencer; black dress – Lands’ End
Holy handbags! Next week is the last week of the winter wardrobe cycle! I’m going to start the spring additions in January, so for the next 2 weeks at the end of year, I’m going to show some example Weekly Timeless Wardrobes, based on art! Talk about mixing up my themes and inspirations…
love,
Janice
p.s. 3 years ago, I was wistfully looking back at a recent trip to Paris… I’m going in January with Belovedest, so you will get an update on what Parisiennes do in the dead of winter!
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Janice,
Lovely outfits here ! I confess that I only have one skirt, which I wear with tights and tall boots in Winter, yet rarely, and only on more formal occasions, such as church or funerals . And yes, where in the heck are the brown clothes ? If I were a younger me, I’d find someone to start a line of brown clothes and all of its shades, as well as all of the accents that go with warm brown !
That is why I refuse to throw away brown-colored clothing until it is worn out. I have a large plastic bin of such things that don’t presently fit. I go through it every year, the contents vary based on my weight fluctuations ?.
I will say once again: a wool skirt is the easiest garment to sew.
Janice, That suede skirt is merely fabulous. It hardly goes with my navy and gray neutrals but it is fun to dream nonetheless. I will consider sewing a longer skirt. I think I have some heavy navy pieces in my stash. But what to put on my size 10 (wide) feet? Thanks for the wonderful inspiration!!!
Boots. Nobody notices the size of your feet anywhere nearly as much as you do! When you see pictures of Audrey Hepburn, do you notice how big HER feet were? Nope…
hugs,
Janice
I love skirts and wear them all the time, haven’t found a casual winter skirt that works in my wardrobe yet, but I have a nice camel houndstooth that’s pretty useful. Hadn’t thought about the double layering before, but I’m definitely going to give that a go.
Why does nobody do a nice corduroy skirt, with a bit of a flair but not a big circle skirt, in about 8 colors? It could be elastic waist, for heaven’s sake. It needn’t cost a fortune, nor be madly dressy.
As has been remarked by SewingLibrarian, making our own might be the answer…
hugs,
Janice
If you want a basic corduroy skirt, take a look at Vermont Country Store. Nothing fancy, but simple and classic.
OH HECK YES! How did I forget that – I just sent my sweet mother some maple candy from there. Have you been to their store? It’s so much fun, and I don’t often say that visiting a store is fun!
hugs,
Janice
Janice,
Hi Janice,
Love that caramel skirt! And the Nordstrom scarf is to die for — if it weren’t so close to Christmas I’d be very tempted. I’ve been coming to your blog for inspiration (especially when packing a suitcase) for several years now and I wondered whether you would be up for a challenge/request. I am becoming more and more conscious of the waste involved in the fashion industry and am considering making 2020 a year of buying only secondhand clothing. Would you be at all willing to do a post or two featuring second hand rather than new items? Your eye is amazing! I’ve learned a lot from you, and it would be so inspiring to see that it’s possible to put together these amazing wardrobes with secondhand rather than new…
Do you read the French Girl in Seattle blog? Given the grève situation in Paris–with no end in sight–it’s useful to know that the #1 Metro line is one of the two fully automated lines in Paris, and hence is one of the two still running.
Remembering a favourite soft cream flecked hunter green and black tweed skirt cut on the bias that I wore in the late seventies. Loved it! I wore it with a number of sweater tops and it always looked great!
I need to find a modern replacement. I have knee high black riding style boots. Somewhere I know I have black tights. Hmmmmm ……
This has inspired me as to what to wear today on my last day at work before an extended break. Perhaps my lilac beaded cardigan and silver shirt with dual tonal purple scarf (like the one in the post, though I found mine in a charity shop) and navy polka-dot navy midi skirt because I dont have a black skirt. I loved your ‘parisienne’ post – such enticing window displays.
I have a grey wool calf length pleated skirt bought at Jaeger in London in the late ’70’s. It was my first investment piece of clothing and couldn’t believe my mother talked me into spending so much money. Wore the heck out of it for 15 years. I’ve held on to it as it is so classic I knew it would come back sometime and I think this is finally the years.